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In "The Art of Man-Fishing" Thomas Boston (1676-1732) outlines thoughts on evangelism based on Matthew 4:19, "I will make you fishers of men." Originally conceived as a series of private meditations when he was a young man, Boston never intended for it to be published. It has proven itself as tremendously insightful, clear in presentation, and eminently useful since its first publication in 1773, some forty years after his death.

CROOK IN THE LOT ''Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which He has made crooked'' (Ecclesiastes 7:3) One's lot consists of all the things in life that God has allotted to a person. So if one sees rough and painful happenings in life, looking to second causes first will but stir up fretting and fuming. But a look at the first cause will remind us that it is God that has caused the crook in our lot, If He is to work all things to our good, He at times must put a kink in our plans. ''A man's heart plans his way, but Jehovah fixes his step'' (Pro. 16:9). Observe: 1. Whatever crook there is in our lot, it is of God's making. He has decreed all things in our lives, else how could He make all things work to our good? Each one has been allotted certain things, each of us differently; yet so as to make them work together. If between two saints, good for both of them. If between an unbeliever and a believer, the unbeliever's life works to the good of the believer. 2. What God sees fit to mar, no one will be able to mend his lot. When the course of events cross our plans, and God has done it, then only God can unloose the knot in our plans. 3. Everyone's lot in this world has some crook in it. Complainers are apt to make odious comparisons. Everyone feels for himself, when he is pinched, though others do not see it. Only God knows the pain allotted to each. 4. The crook in the lot came into the world by sin. It is owing to the Fall that sin entered the world. This crook in our lot inseparably follows our sinful condition, till dropping this body of sin we enter Heaven's gates. There was no personal sin in Christ, yet He was humiliated and suffered for the sins of others. All this was decreed of Him. Why not in our lives also? Boston (1676-1732) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and author.

The Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston A faithful soul-winners' guide to Calvinistic evangelism recommended by John MacAuthur. ''Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men'' (Matt. 4:19). The first thing is to follow the chief Fisher of men, Christ. He gives the promise that if they follow Him, they will indeed become fishers of men. But how does Christ make men fishers of men? (1) By His call; (2) By giving them success. For His word comes to them ''in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance'' (1 Thess. 1:5). It is not by might, nor by craft, but by the power of the Spirit that fishers of men succeed. You need not despair of fishing amongst the worst of men, for none can resist the Spirit when He engages Himself. Words to Winners of Souls, by Horatius Bonar, is addressed primarily to ministers of the Gospel. It is wondrously effective in its message to those called to preach the precious words of the Scriptures. However, the usefulness of the book is not confined to ministers, but has a message for all witnesses of Christ. The same spirit, sincerity, and fervency is needful for all witnesses, whatever their calling in life. There can be but one goal to winners of souls, to lead the lost sinners around them to that ''resting place where doubt and weariness, the stings of a pricking conscience, and the longings of an unsatisfied soul'' may be satisfied, in Christ Jesus. In Him alone will all these be changed into holy joy, peace, and everlasting happiness

"The Digital Puritan" is a quarterly digest of carefully selected Puritan writings, suitable for personal devotional use or for small group discussion. The focus of each article is typically more practical than theological. The originals have been sparingly edited, generally only to correct typographical errors or make the text more readable. Scripture references (ESV®) are embedded in the text as hyperlinks--no wireless connection is needed.

This edition contains the following articles:

1. Be Not Soon Shaken in Mind - Thomas Manton. Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:2. From a series of eighteen sermons Manton preached on the end times, which is sadly now appropos given the recent stirrings over the Harold Camping debacle. Christians are not to doubt Christ's plain instruction, that no man would know the time of his return (Matthew 24:36).

2. Meditations of the Misery of a Man Not Reconciled to God in Christ - Lewis Bayly. A lengthy excerpt from The Practice of Piety which candidly and biblically addresses the error of now-shown-to-be-a-universalist Rob Bell's most recent book Love Wins; namely, that God will not set aside his justice to spare those who continue to unrepentantly spurn Christ's sacrifice.

3. The Art of Man-Fishing - Thomas Boston. The personal reflections of Thomas Boston on the importance of winning souls to Christ; presented in its entirety. J.I. Packer commends it as "worthy to stand on the same shelf as Baxter's Reformed Pastor."

4. The Dying Thief at Calvary Saved - John Flavel. An examination of the unique characteristics of this unlikely eleventh-hour salvation; this piece is informative to Christians who often wonder if a death-bed conversion is likely genuine or not.

5. An Examination of True Christian Sincerity - William Gurnall. An excerpt from The Christian in Complete Armour which is useful in helping the professing Christian probe his heart, to determine if his motives in coming to Christ are sincere or hypocritical, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The Digital Puritan is a quarterly digest of carefully selected Puritan works which provides a steady diet of sound Puritan teaching. The language has been gently modernised to render it more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the original text. Hundreds of helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed. The following articles appear in this winter 2014-2015 edition:

1. Anger Not to Be Sinfully Indulged – Thomas Boston 2. Hope and Comfort Usually Follow Genuine Humiliation and Repentance – Jonathan Edwards 3. The Brevity of Life—A Call to Improve It – Andrew Gray 4. The Character of a Complete Evangelical Pastor, Drawn by Christ – John Flavel 5. To Be Light in a Dark Place is Commendable – Christopher Love.

The Digital Puritan is a biannual digest of carefully selected Puritan works, providing a steady diet of sound Puritan teaching. The language has been gently modernised to render it more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the original text. Hundreds of helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed.

The following articles appear in this autumn/winter 2015 special edition, "The Word of God":

1. The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures – Hugh Binning. The necessity of learning and practising what the Bible teaches is shown from 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

2. The Duty of Searching the Scriptures – George Whitefield. In which Whitefield illustrates the two great messages of the Scripture (our fallen nature and the grace of God) and gives directions on how to make time spent in Scripture most profitable. Based on John 5:39.

3. The Great Worth of Scripture Knowledge – Francis Roberts. Roberts gives seven helpful directions on how to better read and understand the Word of God.

4. How the Word is to be Read and Heard – Thomas Boston. From Luke 8:18 ("Take heed therefore how ye hear"), Boston teaches how to prepare our hearts for receiving the Word, and how to apply it to our daily lives.

5. How We May Read the Scriptures with Most Spiritual Profit – Thomas Watson. Watson's own collection of twenty-four directions on how to read the Scripture for greatest benefit.

6. The Puritan Practice of Meditation – Drs. Joel R. Beeke and Mark Jones. To read the Scripture is not enough; it must permeate the mind and affect the heart. The authors show how the Puritans used meditation this effect.

The Digital Puritan is a quarterly digest of carefully selected Puritan works which provides a steady diet of sound Puritan teaching. The language has been gently modernised to render it more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the original text. Hundreds of helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed.

The following articles appear in this spring/summer 2014-2015 edition:

1. Profiting from the Puritans for Devotional Reading – Joel Beeke

2. Dead Preaching is Often the Cause of a People’s Deadness – William Fenner